Age Matters

On my last birthday my daughter very sweetly said to me "it's okay Mom, you're only as young as you look". We laughed as I corrected the saying (you're only as young as you feel) and explained the meaning. I am continuing to re-tell this story as other peoples birthdays come and go.

It seems that youthful looks are coveted and as humans we are ever so critical of our aging selves. Yet aging is one of the most enriching parts of our lives. How else would we learn about the joys of longterm friendships, the satisfaction of seeing our children graduate, the love felt on a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary or the thrill of a first grandchild being born.  Today's aging population (those of us over 30) are healthier, more active and generally a more enlightened group than past generations. Many of us have travelled more, had more than one career and with the help of the internet, knowledge about anything is only a click away. Still, the mirror does not lie and we cannot halt what time does to our bodies. Much as we try. The battle of the bulge and the fine lines we call "smile lines" still appear in the photos we see of ourselves. Do we embrace our older selves and say, "hey, I look good"? Nope! We look at our photos or in the mirror and we harshly judge that we are "too fat" or too (insert your favourite criticism here). The truth is that you've earned the face and body you have now. Every grey hair, every wrinkle, every stretch mark is a reference point for how far you've come in your life. Without them we wouldn't be the people we are today. Still, youth is coveted and admired and social media continually extols the virtuals of the young and beautiful.
Wouldn't it be lovely if the Betty White's of the world were what we all aspired to, even at 20? Can you just imagine your teenaged daughter saying "I can't wait till I'm older and look like Betty White, she's so beautiful". Perhaps if we start now, we can brainwash them and in a few years it will catch on and the socially accepted norm will be a fifty year old woman with natural, uncoloured hair and no botox!

Until then, there is a support group for anyone who thinks they look old, fat, wrinkled and basically hideous. It's called 'Friends'. It should work something like this: you look in the mirror and don't like what you see.....grab the phone, call 4 or 5 of your closest friends and host a gathering. Food is optional, appies are great but not necessary. Wine is mandatory, but other options are also acceptable. The friends gather, drink the wine and compliment each other on how awesome and amazing they all are. Celebrate your successful lives. All the little things count. Do your ankles look good? Great! Count them in! Did you make it through the day with minimal friction within your household? Fabulous! You are awesome! Having a good hair day? Grab the camera! And so it goes, until each member has contributed something positive towards the other members and everyone has celebrated a personal success and all the wine has been drank. At that time the meeting adjourns. It is recommended that these meetings be held monthly but if one or more members are struggling, weekly meetings can be scheduled. It is proven to be soothing, enriching and at times, downright comical. The success rate of these meetings have yet to be proven in clinical research as studies are still ongoing. Form your group today and start practicing the "I am amazing" motto that is encouraged among local chapters. It is also possible for one chapter to host another chapter in order to have a really large group. The larger the group, the more you are able to hear how fantastic you all are. It's empowering and rewarding! Seriously, why should the young and good-looking be revered? Look in the mirror and tell yourself that you look great....not great for your age, just great. Then, believe it. We all have just one life. Let's enjoy what we have, while we have it. Like fine wine, we all get better with age......and of course, adding wine just makes it all the more enjoyable! Cheers!

The Company Makes the Meal

Champagne and orange juice on a sunny, Saturday morning is a beautiful thing. The tangy, sweet taste of the fresh orange juice mixed with the bubbly, effervescence of champagne....mmmm, such a treat. I was lucky enough to be invited to a Mother/Daughter Brunch hosted by a lovely friend and attended by 6 other ladies and their beautiful, teenaged daughters. A memorable event, and not just because of the food. The eggs were light and fluffy, the bacon crisp and the scones melted in my mouth. The flavoured coffee and the sponge cake with fresh berries and cream were like a carnival on my tongue. However, what will remain for years to come was the warmth and friendship that was felt around the table. As glasses were raised to toast each other, I was very aware of how very blessed we all were to be able to sit around that table, full of scrumptious food, with teenaged girls that wanted to be with us, and we were all so very happy. After the feast the girls gathered in the gazebo with guitars and put their self-confidence to the test as they sang a tribute to their mothers, compliments of Taylor Swift's "The Best Day". As the group relaxed in the sunshine, I took mother/daughter twosomes for individual photoshoots to capture the moment for future generations. I was striving for that perfect photo that would forever reflect this very special day. I was thrilled with the enthusiasm of my subjects. The mom's and daughter's tilted, turned, smiled, laughed and posed with ease. As our gathering was winding down, I reflected on how each of us had contributed something special to the occasion. What was clearest of all was that without the people, there would be no event. So, yes, the food was great, the weather was gorgeous and we are all unique and wonderful individuals, but coming together and sharing the day is what makes life worthwhile. I invite all readers to host an event, invite friends to your home and build strong friendships. At the end of the day, regardless of how good the food is, it's the company that makes the meal!

Happy Mother's Day to all!